Bhullar suffers mid-round lapse, finishes 59th at Joburg Open

Johannesburg: Gaganjeet Bhullar suffered a big slump at the start of the back nine with four bogeys in five holes and ended up with his worst card of the week at two-over 74 to finish tied 59th at the Joburg Open at the Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club.

He came down from his overnight 51st place after a score of 71 in the third round.

Bhullar finished with rounds of 71, 67, 71 and 74 to befour-under 283. Bhullar played his second round at the par-71 West course and the other three rounds at par-72 East Course.

In the final round, Bhullar birdied the first, just as he had in third round, but like the third round, he bogeyed the third to drop back to par. He birdied the sixth and eighth and dropped a bogey on seventh. Then he bogeyed ninth, 10th and 11th and 12th and the consolation was a birdie on 18th for a 74.

Bhullar was the lone Indian in the field. At the top, there was a keen tussle with three South Africans George Coetzee, Justin Walters and Thomas Aiken tied at 17-under and Korean Jin Jeong was 16-under. Coetzee had played nine holes in final round, while others had finished eight.

The club house leader was Andy Sullivan (65) at 15-under,while Alviro Quiros and David Horsey were at 14-under with one holes and eight holes to play.

There is added bonus at the Joburg Open, which is part of The Open Qualifying Series - South Africa. Three players, who have not already qualified and who finish in the top ten at the Joburg Open, will secure places in The Open Championship at Royal Liverpool from July 17-20.

In the event of a tie, the qualifying place(s) will go to the player with the highest ranking in the Official World Golf Ranking at the start of that week.